MSA Newsletter A newsletter for Member Schools of Marist Schools Australia published fortnightly during term time

From Brother Michael Green

Dear Brothers, Colleagues and Friends

A week after the powerful symbol of ashes was traced on our foreheads, and how are we doing in our time of Lenten renewal? Perhaps we might heed some advice from St Marcellin.

The story goes that, just after Ash Wednesday one year at the Hermitage, some young trainee Brothers, full of youthful fervour for what they might do for Lent, came to Father Champagnat to request permission to join in the full fasting of Lent (something that was not usually allowed for any Brother under 21 years of age.) They were pleased when the Founder agreed, but rather surprised by what he said next. Yes, he told them, they could have permission to fast but only if they allowed him to determine the parameters for their fasting. What he then set out for them had little to do with skipping lunch, as they had imagined.

He proposed a three-way fast. First, he said, they should have their eyes fast. By that he meant that, rather than engaging with every stimulus which came their way, they should make time and space to disengage, to be quiet, to be recollected. Second, he suggested that they should have their tongues fast, to listen rather than to speak. Third, they should fast from acting insensitively or impulsively, and being victim to every little whim or emotion. Additionally, he counselled the young Brothers that there was something from which they should never fast: they should not allow their souls to fast, never to neglect to nourish their inner selves. He explained to them, in case they didn’t get his meaning, that this meant they should never starve themselves of prayer, of meditation, of Eucharist, or of a time of examen at the end of each day. He went further on this point, using some typically earthy figurative language: “Don’t give mouldy bread to your souls,” he told the young men. “Mouldy bread” for him meant prayers that were rushed, meditation that was distracted, or an attitude to their spiritual lives that was shallow or merely perfunctory. Give your souls the very best bread, he told them, and generously.

One of the imperatives that last year’s International Marist Mission Assembly put before you andmeas Marists was that we should be “mystics”. The delegates wrote in their final communiqué that, indeed, we will be recognised as Marist in the way that Marcellin wanted us to be Marist if, first of all, we were mystics. They listed five ways as to what that might look like. Third on their list was: we make use of quality time and space to deepen our attentiveness to who we are, a process that gives meaning to what we do. Then fourth, that as educators and evangelisers, we accompany … other to grow in interiority, spirituality and prayer. At last month’s Marist Youth Festival, Brother Emili’s strongest message to the young people was along the same lines.

Perhaps as Marist educators this could be one of the most helpful lessons we might share with the young people in our care this Lent – to witness to them how to be recollected, how not to be victim to every emotion or every stimulus with which we are confronted. In their hyper-stimulated lives they can be ill-prepared and ill- equipped to create the time, space and silence to be attentive – to take out their ear-pieces and turn off their smartphones, both literally and figuratively. It is, of course, the first Marian attitude: to be silent so as to hear, to contemplate. Among all that they might gain from the Marist education we offer our students, let’s ensure a special place for helping them to develop a disposition to contemplation.

Nisi Dominus

Brother Michael Green fms NATIONAL DIRECTOR MSA Newsletter 2 | 24 February 2015 NOTICES AND NEWS COMING UP... 25 Feb In the Marist Way, Macarthur Region 13 Mar MSA Regional Council meeting, Sydney 1-4 Mar Footsteps 1 programme, Mittagong 13 Mar Marist Principals’ Regional Meeting, Melbourne 5 Mar In the Marist Way, Central Victoria 15-18 Mar Footsteps 2 programme, Mittagong 6 Mar In the Marist Way, Sydney Eastern Region 16 Mar In the Marist Way, Marist Youth Care 9 Mar Labour Day Public Holiday, Victoria 19 Mar In the Marist Way, Adelaide 9 Mar Marist Principals’ Regional Meeting, Brisbane 20 Mar In the Marist Way, Western Region Sydney 10 Mar Marist Principals’ Regional Meeting, Sydney 20 Mar Remar Coordinators’ Retreat, Templestowe 11 Mar MSA Regional Council meeting, Brisbane 23-25 Mar Marist Leaders: Mystics and Prophets, Sydney 11-12 Mar MSA Regional Council meeting, Melbourne 31 Mar Directors’ Forum

NOMINATIONS FOR 2015 AUSTRALIAN 2014 MARIST MINISTRIES MASS & MARIST MISSION ASSEMBLY DINNER AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Marist Mission Assembly to be held in August at Mittagong Here is a list of last year’s awardees for Outstanding Contribution will be the first representative gathering of the new Marist to Marist Education or to Marist Ministry. Special thanks and Association of St Marcellin. Its purpose will be to reflect on Marist congratulations to all. life and ministry in Australia, to consider the strategic directions Brisbane and priorities for the next three years, and to nominate the Cath Collier, members of the next Mission Council (which from later this year Michael Druce, Marist College Ashgrove will be the Council of the Association). All who have put in their Tom Kruger, Burdekin Catholic High School expressions of interest to join the Association, or have already Eve McCormack, Marish College Ashgrove been accepted, should have received information last week on Peter McWhirter, parent, Marish College Ashgrove how to nominate people to attend the Assembly. Diarmuid O’Riordan, St Peter Claver College Riverview Expressions of interest to join are always welcome and can be Megan Pettiford, Trinity College Beenleigh submitted at any time. Already the number is at the 400 mark. If John Pierce, St Mary’s Catholic College Casino you would like to know more then send an email to Joe McCarthy Sam Puglisi, Petrie at [email protected] Mark Stower, Mt Maria College Mitchelton Geraldine Swindells, St Peter Claver College Riverview NEW APPOINTMENT MLF TEAM Derek Worden, Mt Maria College Mitchelton Sydney David Buckley, Australian Marist Solidarity We welcome Bessie McConnell as the new Personal Assistant to Sue Dein, St Gregory’s College Campbelltown the Director of MLF and Executive Assistant to the MLF team. Leonie Flynn, John Therry Catholic High School She joins us with the experience of working in a large firm and James Gray, St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill holds a Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Systems). Bessie will join Ray Holmes, Trinity College Auburn the Marist Centre Mascot on the 5th March 2015. John Kelly, Mount Carmel Catholic College Varroville Julia Lederwasch, St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton We also thank Charlene Sim for her wonderful work with the Carmel Luck, MLF team. Charlene’s amazing creativity in the development of spiritual formation resources, the sharing of ideas and the way Chris Maley, Marist Youth Care she has supported all our programmes has been a great gift to Tony McDonnell, Marist College North Shore us. We wish Charlene all the very best in her future endeavours. Chris Morrissey, Marist College Canberra Christine Robertson, Marist College Canberra Les Salisbury, Marcellin College Randwick USA WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG Jacqui Smith, Marist Youth Care LITURGICAL MUSICIANS Carole Wark, Province Melbourne Here’s some thing that may be of interest Margie Beck, Province to schools looking to develop their Phil Billington, Province contemporary liturgical music. John Cadd, Sacred Heart College Senior Peter Centra, Catholic College Sale Visit the website for more information: Peter Collins, Catholic College Sale musicministryalive.com Matt de Jong, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Alice Springs Michael Kenny, Assumption College Kilmore Robert Tarraran, Br Fon Van Rooij, Province Peter White, Province IMW HUNTER MAITLAND/NEWCASTLE Staff from St Francis Xavier Hamilton and St Peter’s Maitland participating in the “In the Marist Way: New Staff Induction” program hosted by SFX on Tuesday, 10 February.

Front Row: (L – R) Dan Mitchell, Matt Priest, Rachel Said, Nicole Morgan, Amanda Smith. Back Row: (L – R) David Obradovic, Craig Phillips, Melissa Grey, Andrew Burke, Kim Ninness, Lisa Duck, Mary Foxall, Eva Frize, Kim Hann NURSES AND CARERS’ CONFERENCE From 16 -18 February, a group of nurses and carers from the Brothers communities at Ashgrove, Randwick, Hunters Hill and Campbelltown gathered at the Hermitage, Mittagong, to reflect upon their shared Marist mission of care and health support.

MARIST COLLEGE EMERALD

On Friday 19 February, the family held their Opening Mass for 2015. It was a wonderful celebration of the senior leaders, senior students, new Year 7 students and new staff. The community of students, staff and a large contingent of parents gathered together and enjoyed a lively Mass celebrated by Fr Steven Hanly.

Some staff then gathered for a justLOVE Program and finished the day with an evening meal.

College Vice Captains, Billy Price and Kealy Jeppesen Marist Asia-Pacific Solidarity (MAPS) Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS) Marist Volunteers Australia (MVA) INTRODUCING THE 2015 REMAR MINISTRY TEAM MSOL KIT LAUNCHED ACROSS THE DITCH! Liz Wake Marist Schools in New MYM/Remar Coordinator Zealand are, for the first time, being rallied together to join Marist Schools in Australian in support of Marist Solidarity. It marks a new era of collaboration as Emily Lyall-Green Brother David McDonald, St Patrick’s College, District Leader of the Launceston Pacific, invites New Zealand schools to “Join the Solidarity Effect”.

In his letter he invites the District of the Pacific to support Marist Solidarity through “sharing resources, educating others and Lance Newton providing information to help raise the community’s level of understanding of others as well as providing physically through Marcellin College, donations of money, resources and time.” Bulleen

We are excited about the prospect of Marists across Australia and New Zealand combining efforts in support of the Marist aid and development mission in Asia and the Pacific.

Marist Solidarity Campaign resources Jackson Perry are available on: St Patrick’s College, www.maristsolidarity.com.au Launceston

MSA SCHOOL VISITS – FROM CAIRNS TO CAMPBELLTOWN Cassie Wilmott The MSol Team members have visited 15 schools in Queensland Sacred Heart College, and New South Wales this year to introduce Schools Campaign, Adelaide discuss immersion experiences and co-ordination as well as introduce the possibilities for staff and students with MVA (Marist Volunteers Australia). It was also great to be able to work with the young men and women at the Marist Youth Festival and Qld student leaders at the Student Leaders Gathering. We are grateful for the hospitality and time shared with us. We look forward to visiting the Southern schools in the coming months. Maddison Whyte Marist Sion College, Warragul Michael Coleman MSol Team – Brisbane E | [email protected]

Next Issue: 10 March 2015